Mistakes to Avoid when Making Rice Krispies Treats

Homemade Rice Krispies Treats are easy and quick to make, and they are a fun and affordable alternative to go-to desserts like brownies and cookies. You may be tempted to just dive right in and make the recipe per the instructions on the back of the Rice Krispies cereal box; they are the experts right? That’s fine, but there are a few crucial steps that you really need to be aware of before you get started. Take my advice and first read about these common mistakes to avoid when making rice krispies treats and tips to cooking gooey, scrumptious desserts.

Do Not Use Old Ingredients. Unless you are in a bind, or you just are craving Rice Krispies Treats and you are the only consumer, do not use old ingredients. You can taste the difference in a freshly opened package of marshmallows and in fresh spices. Marshmallows that have been exposed to air become firm over time, so it takes longer to melt them and when melted, the clump together instead of forming a smooth spread.

TIP: There’s nothing wrong with using old marshmallows, but put them in s’mores on your next camping trip or in hot cocoa this winter.

TIP: Fresh spices make a world of difference in cooking, both to the pallet and the scent. If you don’t want to lay out a bunch of money on all new spices, try buying just one new spice that can substitute for others (for example, Pumpkin Pie Spice can replace All Spice, Nutmeg, and Cinnamon in a Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispies Treat recipe).

More Marshmallows is a Good Thing. There’s nothing worse than a Rice Krispies Treat that falls apart when cut or chewed. They should be gooey. To guarantee ultimate stickiness, opt for more marshmallows than the recipe calls for; it won’t affect the taste.

Do Not Refrigerate Rice Krispies Treats. Refrigerating Rice Krispies Treats turns them into a brick. You can try to thaw them at room temperature for an hour or so before consuming but they will not have the correct texture. Rice Krispies Treats are best when made and consumed within the same 24 hour window, but they will typically maintain a crunchy, delightfully gooey consistency for about 48 hours.

TIP: Seal Rice Krispies Treats in tupperware or airtight, ziplock bags and leave them on your counter (or hide them in your pantry).

Cook at Medium-Low Heat. These only take about 20 minutes to prep, so don’t rush through the steps. Melt the butter and the marshmallows on Medium-Low (or even Low) heat. Your patience will pay off with perfectly smooth, blended marshmallow fluff.

TIP: Stir the marshmallows into the melted butter so that each marshmallow appears evenly coated, then stir frequently to assure even melting and prevent burning.

TIP: Stir from the outside-in, rather than in a circle around the saucepan, to avoid pushing Rice Krispies out of the pan before they are incorporated into the marshmallow-butter fluff.

Extra Ingredients are Delicious! Adding things like spices, fun-shaped marshmallows that are unmelted, semi-sweet chocolate chips, or candy corn is a fun way to add texture, color and dimension to the Rice Krispies Treats. It will taste delicious.

TIP: Remove the Rice Krispies-marshmallow mixture from the stove before adding in dry ingredients like additional marshmallows, chocolate chips or candy corn so that they don’t melt. You can stir them into the batch, or sprinkle on top (and press in) of the treats after they’ve been added to the cooling pan.

TIP: If you’re adding spices, stir them into the marshmallow-butter fluff before the marshmallows are 100% melted and stir, stir, stir. Do not add spices after you’ve mixed in the Rice Krispies.